Siemianowice Śląskie

Siemianowice Śląskie

City Council

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Coat of arms
Siemianowice Śląskie
Coordinates: 50°16′33″N 18°59′9″E / 50.27583°N 18.98583°E / 50.27583; 18.98583
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Silesian
County city county
Established 13th century
Town rights 1932
Government
 • Mayor Rafał Piech
Area
 • City 25.5 km2 (9.8 sq mi)
Highest elevation 295 m (968 ft)
Lowest elevation 260 m (850 ft)
Population (2013)
 • City 69,713
 • Density 2,700/km2 (7,100/sq mi)
 • Urban 2,746,000
 • Metro 4,620,624
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 41-100 to 41-106
Area code(s) +48 32
Car plates SI
Website http://www.um.siemianowice.pl

Siemianowice Śląskie also known as Siemianowice (Polish pronunciation: [ɕɛmjanɔˈvit͡sɛ ˈɕlɔ̃skʲɛ]; German: Siemianowitz-Laurahütte; Silesian: Śymjanowicy) is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice, in its central district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million people and is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river (tributary of the Vistula).

It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999, previously in Katowice Voivodeship, and before then in the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship. Siemianowice is one of the cities of the 2.7 million conurbation, the Katowice urban area, at the heart of the greater Silesian metropolitan area populated by about 5,294,000 people.[1] The population of the city is 71,621 (2008).[2]

Siemianowice's present form results from the merging of the communes Siemianowice and Huta Laury (German: Laurahütte) in 1924. The new city was named Siemianowice Śląskie and gained town privileges in 1932.

Etymology

There are three hypothetical explanations for the origins of the name Siemianowice: either it comes from seven huts which were called Siedminowice/Siedmionowice in Old Polish; from the old legend about Siemion (Siemian), Michał and Maciej, or Siemion, Michał and Jakub; or it comes from ziemia nawa which means earth taken away from water.

According to the most probable version the three settelments on Rosperk's (Rozbark) southern perimeter were founded by Siemion Spyra - Siemianowice, Michał Spyra - Michałkowice and Maciej Spyra - Maciejkowice, members of an ancient noble family (Pernus coat of arms) living in Rosperk (Bytom-Rozbark), and some other cities, e.g. Kraków, Oława, Racibórz, Opole, Pěrno (Pirna), Spira (Querfurt-Kyffhäuser-Esperstedt), Spira (Speyer)… The ancient family was first mentioned in German sources of 777 as rulers of Alpine Slavs, where Spyra is recorded in its form of Sperun, as used by Żercy-Žrecy (pagan priests) of Perun. The name Siemion (Семион) Spyra (Спира) was reported by imperial Russian sources after the Napoleonic Wars, after many members of the family, due to German oppression, moved to Congress Poland (just across the river Brynica).[3]

The silver mines of Rosperk were reported 1136 in the Bull of Gniezno as Item villa ante Bitom…argenti fossoribus… and in 1241, while the Mongol invasion of Europe, looted by Turko-Mongol troops of Batu Khan. From looted silver the famous massive Silver Tree of Karakorum was built.

Administrative division

Industry

Notable architectural structures

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Laurahütte, 1840

Siemianowice Śląskie is twinned with: Köthen, Wattrelos, Jablunkov, Mohács, Câmpia Turzii

Famous people

References

  1. ↑ European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON)
  2. ↑ Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2008 - Central Statistical Office in Poland ISSN 1505-5507 , 13.08.2008
  3. ↑ "Герб рода Иосифа-Мариана Спира, Часть 14 Общего гербовника дворянских родов Всероссийской империи, стр. 19". gerbovnik.ru.

Coordinates: 50°19′N 19°02′E / 50.317°N 19.033°E / 50.317; 19.033

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